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Carcassonne,amazing history.

Carcassonne,amazing history.

Definitely make time to walk around the lower town. In addition to having the BEST views of the upper walled city (http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/123199438), the town itself is a nice French town and the Canal du midi goes through it. We were there in March and it was almost empty. It had snowed the day before.

Michael: From Wikipedia: "During the early 1830s, a popular sentiment for the restoration of medieval buildings developed in France. Viollet-le-Duc, returning during 1835 from study in Italy, was commissioned by Prosper Merimée to restore the Romanesque abbey of Vézelay. This work was the first of a long series of restorations; Viollet-le-Duc's restorations at Notre Dame de Paris brought him national attention. His other main works include Mont St-Michel, Carcassonne, Roquetaillade castle and Pierrefonds."